San Mateo politics

Dec 9, 2022
Dec 9, 2022 Updated Apr 13, 2025
8

Editor,

I watched with dismay the extended San Mateo City Council meeting, which was required because of the new City Council’s inability to agree to follow precedence and appoint Councilmember Amourence Lee as mayor yesterday.

(8) comments

Ray Fowler Dec 9, 2022 9:16am

Good morning, Bob

I don't live in San Mateo and I don't have a dog in this hunt.

It looks like both sides of the 2-2 split want to influence the mayoral and city council vacant seat appointments. So, what are the pros and cons of letting the folks in San Mateo decide how to fill the vacant seat? Is that even possible?

Westy Dec 9, 2022 12:45pm

The con is that San Mateo is without a mayor (a potentially dangerous situation if there is an emergency, such as a big earthquake), that the city business is not being done, and that Diaz-Nash and Newsom are diverting city resources into whatever scheming they are up to.

If Diaz-Nash and Newsom think a different procedure for choosing the mayor would be better, they should follow proper process in amending the guidelines and city charter after the mayor and 5th council member are in place. Rather than finding a loophole in that the existing guideline of rotating the mayorship is only a guideline. They wasted 12 hours of the time (so far!) of all of those city employees required to support the council meetings, not to mention the time of citizens attending the meeting.

Ray Fowler Dec 9, 2022 3:08pm

Sorry, Westy, I guess I was not clear... "what are the pros and cons of letting the folks in San Mateo decide how to fill the vacant seat?" Wasn't the vacant seat initially filled with an at-large election? Maybe it should be filled again in that manner. Maybe.

Take the decision out of the hands of Diaz-Nash and Newsom as well as Loraine and Lee. Based on what has transpired thus far, it appears the collective wisdom of the San Mateo electorate can be trusted to make the best choice.

A "con" to an at-large election could be cost, but it's not likely an earthquake sometime in the future is a reason to not hold an election. I have not seen any legislative action anywhere rushed because the San Andreas fault may act up. If an earthquake or other such emergency did occur, the city staff and the appropriate departments would start executing disaster plans already in place. They would not need any city council members to help them do so. I guess if there is a time sensitive and crucial item of city business that needs attention right away, that could be a reason to install a fifth city council member sooner rather than later. Is there such an issue so compelling?

This business of who should be mayor raises its head every now and again on the Peninsula, and it always seems to be accompanied by some controversy. I'm sure Amourence is qualified to serve as mayor and it looks like it is her turn to wield the gavel. If the name of a suitable appointee, acceptable to all four current council members, is not submitted... could those four council members agree to move forward with an at-large election after naming Lee as mayor?

Like I said, I have no dog in this hunt, but when a city like San Mateo is successful, that is good for the whole county. I just hope that when this dispute is resolved, we won't see a lot of 3-2 council votes in the future.

Tafhdyd Dec 10, 2022 7:38am

Good morning Ray,

Once again your clear thinking commonsense approach, also made easy by the fact you don't have a horse in the race, is clearly expressed. Absent the possibility of appointing a relatively neutral qualified place holder that is not overly beholding to one side or the other, a special election sounds like an answer. I was not in favor of the district election but it is in place going forward. The thought was to give the various areas of the city their own representative rather than have control by most members of the council from one area and few or none from another area. It looks to me that the districts only enabled things to somewhat stay the same by the way the boundaries were drawn. BTW, Go Navy!!!

Ray Fowler Dec 10, 2022 4:54pm

Hello, Tafhdyd...

Alas and alack! Navy lost 20-17 in OT. Wait 'til next year...

The vacant seat was originally filled with an at-large election. Let the folks in San Mateo decide who should be installed with another at-large election, then a district election can proceed in 2024.

If I lived in San Mateo and could vote in an at-large special election, I would write in Jorg's name.

Ray Fowler Dec 10, 2022 4:56pm

Just kidding... he has no interest in tackling local issues like how an earthquake may throw the San Mateo City Council into chaos. They're already there...

Westy Dec 10, 2022 5:47pm

Thanks Ray, i didn't understand your question. Agree the big con to special election is cost, but also it would cause a big delay in getting the city's business done because elections take time.

Ray Fowler Dec 10, 2022 6:59pm

Hi, Westy

You're correct... special elections come with a hefty price tag. If San Mateo follows that path, all four current city council members will have that expenditure tied to their names. I understand your point re: how an election can delay getting City business done, but what items of business are in urgent need of the city council's attention? Agreed... there should not be an inordinate amount of time set aside just to accommodate a special election, but if the election can move ahead expeditiously... and there is no urgent business... let the voters decide.

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